LP SoCE filing extension hit

Rest in peace, rule of law, the United Nationalist Alliance said, after the Commission on Elections allowed the late filing of the Statement of Contributions and Expenditures of the Liberal Party and its standard-bearer Manuel A. Roxas II.

The Comelec en banc voted 4-3 to extend the deadline of the filing of the SoCE of political parties and candidates Thursday.

UNA, led by another May 9 presidential bet, Vice President Jejomar C. Binay, said yesterday that it is “mourning the death of rule of law” in connection with the Comelec ruling.

UNA spokesman Mon Ilagan said that on May 10, the Comelec sent an official letter to all political party treasurers strongly reminding them of the June 8 “non-extendable deadline” and the consequences of filing incomplete financial documents and the non-submission of SoCE on time.

“This deadline SHALL NOT BE EXTENDED. AS THE PARTY TREASURER, YOU ARE THE ONLY PERSON AUTHORIZED BY LAW TO SIGN YOUR PARTY’S SoCE. Failure to file said Statement within the period provided shall subject your party to the penalties provided for under Section 14 of Republic Act No. 7166 (Synchronized Local and National Elections and for Electoral Reforms),” Ilagan quoted the letter as saying.

“The same law prohibits the winning candidates that you have nominated from entering upon the duties of their elective office should you fail to file your party’s SoCE,” the letter added. (ELLSON A. QUISMORIO)